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Postpartum Exercise

So I have started exercising (when I can) again. I managed to get to my prepregnancy weight before I got pregnant again (it took a year to shed the weight!). But I also managed to gain ~35 lbs. this last pregnancy! Now it’s the daunting task of losing that weight again. I am finding it is not quite as easy to shed as the first time around, even though I am exclusively breastfeeding. I guess it’s just something about the second kid?

I know a lot of mom’s out there find it difficult to get exercise in when you are wrangling a child, let alone two. I’m beginning to find it more difficult with two. Last week I didn’t work out at all cause my son was sick all week! How can a busy mom get a work out in with kids?

1. Gyms with childcare

Many gyms offer child care for a small fee. You can get your spin class in while your kid is looked after by professional child care staff.

2. Mommy and Baby Exercise Classes

A quick Yelp search in your area may yield a lot of surprising exercise with baby options for you and your little one. From bootcamp to yoga, you’ll be able to get a work out in while your little one is by your side. This is especially beneficial for parents who want to save money on the child care aspect. My personal favorite is Baby Bootcamp.

3. Meetup!

Look or create a meetup to do some exercise you enjoy! Whether it’s to find parents out there to go on a run with your baby in a jogging stroller or doing tai chi with baby, you’ll be able to find it or create it. You’d be surprised what you can find on meetup.

4. YouTube & Netflix

Many of us are just too busy juggling work and family that exercising during normal hours is just impossible. You probably don’t want to wake up to do a 6AM work out if your baby isn’t quite sleeping through the night, sometimes the Kid’s Club hours at the gym aren’t very convenient, or your family is simply on a very tight budget. When your kids are sleeping, you can always scour YouTube and Netflix for some exercise videos. YouTube has Jillian Michaels workouts availabe for free.

The long and short of it is that exercising with a new baby may be difficult, but it is doable. It takes a bit of creativity and time to get back to your prepregnancy self, but you can do it! Don’t be discouraged!